Browse Fiction

Gumshoes, flatfoots, private eyes, bloodhounds, hawkshaws, sleuths... whatever you call them, detectives make great reading. From forensic medical examiners to little old lady spies, from amateur teen sleuths to the grittiest of private dicks, the list of beloved recurring characters in fiction dedicated to the art of solving crimes is a long one. We've put together a guide to some of the best snoops out there, to help give you a clue.

Black Beauty launched a thousand horse novels but also influenced public opinion regarding animal welfare. Go beyond Anna Sewell's classic novel and you will find horse-themed fiction from Cormac McCarthy, bestsellers from Per Petterson and Nicholas Evans, a young adult novel from Michael Morpurgo, cowboy tales from Zane Grey and a popular series from Walter Farley.

It has been suggested that close to 2 billion copies of Christie's books have been sold worldwide. It should come as no surprise that AbeBooks has an incredible selection of Agatha's work, including scarce first editions, signed copies and affordable copies of her best work.

Author Interview

Victoria, BC-born author Marjorie Celona talks to us about growing up, belonging, being nominated for the Giller Prize, and the importance of a dog at one's feet - and of course, all about her debut novel, Y.

Cormac McCarthy liked to keep a low profile, typically keeping to himself and out of the spotlight. But all that changed in 2007, when Oprah Winfrey selected his novel The Road for her book club, and the film adaptation of his novel No Country For Old Men won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Picture, substantially raising public awareness of his writing.

From the very beginning, Morrison′s work heavily featured themes of the experiences of black women in a white, male-dominated society. Nevertheless, Morrison has shied away from calling her work feminist, as she feels that makes it inaccessible.

Short Stories

Writing a short story is no mean feat: within its constraints, the author must use the same literary devices as a novel, but in a much more limited format. How do you create fear, elation, excitement, suspense, sorrow, in the span of so few pages? It's an art that takes practice, skill and restraint. The best short stories make every word count. Discover some of the finest here.

Post-Apocalyptic Fiction

Things can always be worse and you can rely on novelists to put that phrase into cold, hard words on the page. Noah′s ark and the flood that wiped earth clean of wicked mankind is an early example of post-apocalyptic writing but the modern genre of end of the world literature can be traced back two centuries to Mary Shelley's The Last Man published in 1826.

Author Interview

Most famous for her bestselling novel The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory has published fifteen novels in total, the latest of which, The White Queen deals with murder, mystery and the fight for the English throne. Read about Gregory's book tastes, research methods, and obsession with the past.